Cosmic rays are energetic particles, mostly atomic nuclei, raining down upon the Earth from the depths of the cosmos. Understanding their detailed nature and origins remains a primary goal in modern-day astroparticle physics.

On Sep. 15, 2016 six Surface Scintillator Detector (SSD) stations were deployed with a single trip to the engineering array site. Five more stations are planned to be deployed next week. The photograph shows the first detector set up in the field, which is part of the triplet at the so-called station Generalife.

On the occasion of the celebration of Jim Cronin’s life on September 30, 2016 came up the idea to gather individual recollections and stories [http://astro.uchicago.edu/Cronin/memories.php] about Jim and the Auger Observatory over the years.

Below are some recollections from Paul Mantsch (Scientist Emeritus at Fermilab), former spokesperon of the US Auger Collaboration and close friend to Jim.

The Pierre Auger Collaboration sadly shares the news that James W. Cronin, Professor Emeritus at the University of Chicago and spokesperson emeritus of Auger died on 25 August, at the age of 84.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, on 29 September 1931, graduated with a PhD in physics in 1955, James Cronin shared the 1980 Nobel Prize for Physics with Val Fitch for their 1964 discovery that decaying subatomic particles called K mesons violate a fundamental principle in physics known as "CP symmetry."

After his prizewinning work, he eventually turned his research to cosmic rays and he was a founding father of the Pierre Auger Observatory, the world's largest cosmic-ray detector, which he conceptualized in 1992 with fellow physicist from the University of Leeds Alan Watson.

In his Nobel biographical statement, he emphasized the importance of his family to his career. “On even the worst days, when nothing was working at the lab, I knew that at home I would find warmth, peace, companionship, and encouragement. As a consequence, the next day would surely be better.”

Our thoughts and deepest sympathy go to his family, his wife, children and grandchildren.

Humberto Salazar Ibarguen, researcher at the Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences of the Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (BUAP) in Mexico, received the medal of Science and Technology "Luis Rivera Terrazas" in recognition of his contributions in the field of Natural Sciences.